Cybersecurity of Grid-Connected PV Systems: Analysis and Impacts on the Australian Grid Stability
| dc.contributor.advisor | Musleh, Ahmed | |
| dc.contributor.author | Al Fayi, Abdulrahman | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-09-03T13:56:27Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-09-03T13:56:27Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-07-29 | |
| dc.description | By 2022, solar energy had reached significant milestones, with Australia's capacity at 26 GW and the global capacity at 1070 GW [1]. The integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems plays a crucial role in this growth, helping to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions [2, 3]. As the energy sector rapidly evolves with these sustainable energy solutions [4, 5], PV systems harness solar power and feed it into the grid, significantly advancing eco-friendly energy sources. However, this progress brings new cybersecurity challenges [6]. The digital and interconnected nature of PV systems makes them susceptible to cyber threats that could compromise the stability and security of the energy infrastructure. Understanding these threats is essential, as cyber-attacks can disrupt operations, lead to economic and financial losses, compromise sensitive information, and undermine public confidence in renewable energy. Among the primary cyber threats, Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks [7] and FDIA [7, 8] are particularly concerning. DoS attacks overwhelm the grid network with excessive signals, disrupting normal operations, while FDIA manipulates data to create substantial disruptions without physical access to critical components [9]. The literature on this topic, such as in the paper [10], provides an in-depth review of cybersecurity challenges, focusing on smart meter security, end-user privacy, and the implementation of cryptographic and blockchain technologies. The authors examine the operational and economic impacts of cyber-attacks and evaluate the resilience of various security measures, drawing on over 135 research articles and case studies. They highlight the urgent need for advanced computational tools to detect and mitigate cyber vulnerabilities and call for further research to develop robust cybersecurity strategies to safeguard smart grid infrastructures. In another study [11], researchers explore how cyber-attacks can disrupt voltage regulation in solar panels within power distribution networks, emphasizing the overlooked risks to solar inverter control systems. They developed a system to detect cyber threats by monitoring voltage anomalies, using a standard IEEE 13-bus test model to demonstrate the potential dangers of these attacks. This study underscores the critical need for strong cybersecurity measures to protect solar power infrastructure. Despite these comprehensive reviews, there are notable research gaps. There is a lack of empirical studies validating cybersecurity threats to grid-connected PV systems under real-world conditions, especially regarding the impact of cyber-attacks on system performance and stability, including PV inverters within the framework of the Australian grid. Understanding these real-time implications is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies. Furthermore, a detailed examination of potential points of exploitation across the system's architecture, from PV inverters to communication protocols and grid interconnections, is needed. This study employs advanced MATLAB simulations to analyze the cybersecurity of grid-connected PV systems within the Australian grid [12, 13]. It identifies and categorizes different cyber-attack scenarios, enhancing understanding of regional threats, and evaluating their impact on system stability and reliability. | |
| dc.description.abstract | The rapid integration of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems, is transforming the energy sector, offering significant advancements towards sustainable energy solutions. By 2022, solar energy has become an important power source, with Australia's capacity reaching approximately 26 gigawatts (GW) and the global capacity extending to around 1070 GW. However, these systems are vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, particularly False Data Injection Attacks (FDIA), which can disrupt their stability and security. Given the importance of PV systems in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions, understanding and mitigating these vulnerabilities is crucial. To address these challenges, this research focused on analyzing the impacts of FDIA, on PV grid-connected systems using the Australian 14 Generators System model which is a close estimation of the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM). We implemented various attack scenarios to assess their effects on system stability and performance. My contributions included the development and simulation of these scenarios using MATLAB, as well as the analysis of the resulting data to identify the impacts and propose mitigation strategies. Our findings revealed significant fluctuations in voltage, current, and power under different attack scenarios. Specifically, regions like Queensland and South Australia exhibited severe instability, with South Australia experiencing system failures under high attack magnitudes. Conversely, regions such as Victoria were less affected. These results underscore the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect PV grid systems and ensure their reliable integration into the energy grid. | |
| dc.format.extent | 33 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14154/72987 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.publisher | Saudi Digital Library | |
| dc.subject | Australian power grid stability | |
| dc.subject | cybersecurity | |
| dc.subject | false data injection attacks | |
| dc.subject | PV systems | |
| dc.subject | solar energy. | |
| dc.title | Cybersecurity of Grid-Connected PV Systems: Analysis and Impacts on the Australian Grid Stability | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| sdl.degree.department | School of Eelectrical Engineering and Telecommunications | |
| sdl.degree.discipline | Electrical Engineering | |
| sdl.degree.grantor | University of New South Wales | |
| sdl.degree.name | Master of Science (Electrical Engineering) | |
| sdl.thesis.source | SACM - Australia |